A Flyers official denied a report that JVR was headed to Toronto for defenseman Luke Schenn.

“Not happening,” he said.

Schenn is the older brother of Brayden, the Flyers’ rookie center.

Van Riemsdyk, 22, has limitless potential (see last year’s playoff outburst), but has had a mediocre season (11 goals, 11 assists), one that has been slowed by injuries. Still, he has drawn interest from numerous general managers who are trying to persuade Flyers GM Paul Holmgren to move him.

If the Flyers make a deal, they aren’t expected to do so until much closer to the Feb. 27 trade deadline.

The Flyers have lots of interest in Nashville defenseman Ryan Suter, a potential unrestricted free agent after the season whom the Predators are trying to resign. He earns $3.5 million this season.

The Flyers, after sending defenseman Matt Walker to the Phantoms and recalling defenseman Erik Gustafsson a few days ago, have about $4.2 million in cap room.

Suter, who will turn 27 on Jan. 21, recently was selected to the all-star team for the first time in his career. He has five goals and 20 assists this season and is plus-7.

The Flyers do not want Suter as a rent-a-player, which means they would want to have a long-term agreement in place if they acquired him.

In the meantime, the Flyers are eager to give the promising 23-year-old Gustafsson a long look before deciding if they have to make a deal. Gustafsson is expected to replace Andrej Lilja in the starting lineup Saturday night in Nashville.

Gustafsson hasn’t played since injuring his wrist in a 9-2 win over Columbus on Nov. 5. In that game, the defenseman was plus-6.

The player they call “Gus” played five games with the AHL Phantoms, and he said on Friday he was 100 percent recovered from wrist surgery _ and itching to return to the lineup.

* * *

Carolina defensemen Bryan Allen and Tim Gleason are on the Flyers' radar, sources said. They are not at the top of their wish list, but they are on it.